Palm Springs International Airport ribbon cutting celebration

Earlier this morning, a ribbon-cutting event took place to celebrate the completion of renovations and updates to the Palm Springs International Airport.

The new update includes a ticket lobby expansion and renovation of a new outbound state-of-the-art baggage system. 

The project started back in February of 2020 and was completed May of this year. The $36-million-dollar project is to expand baggage and ticket services.

Palm Springs Mayor Christy Holstege said, “this is going to accommodate more and more visitors who want to visit us, the City of Palm Springs and throughout the Coachella Valley and also our residents who want to fly all over the world.”

Despite the renovations, the airport still maintained its unique image while still adding more conveniences.

“We maintained the historic facade by Donald Wexler that 1960 jet set age mid century modern design by pushing the counters back significantly to expand the area and front to accommodate for more visitors and more people lining up,” said Holstege.

And what makes this great is the updated baggage system.

Daniel Meier is the Deputy Director of Marketing and Air Service Development said, "when a passenger checks in at the counter and drops off their bags it goes through security, gets screened and ends up out here, in one of those carousels to be loaded onto the airplanes.”

"So this new one of course is more reliable and it helps us reduce chances that luggage might not make a flight," he said.

And the Palm Springs International Airport can use the help as travel is at a high. As of July passenger numbers are up 283%.

The airport is set to keep expanding by adding more airlines and flights.

The airport is holding its first job fair on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Palm Springs Convention Center. There will be more than a dozen airport tenants looking to fill over 80 positions.